Supplementation with BB536 was well tolerated and reduced UCDAI scores, EI and Mayo subscores after 8 weeks in Japanese patients with mild to moderately active UC.

87.3-170.7) and the median overall survival (OS) was 392 days (95% CI: 316.0-468.0). The OS of the patients with ChildPugh class A HCC was significantly better than that of the patients with Child-Pugh class B HCC ( p < 0.0001). The survival curves for Child-Pugh class A-5 points and class A-6 points were significantly different, with that for class A-5 points being better ( p < 0.0001). A significant difference was observed between the patients who exhibited HFS and those who did not, with the former exhibiting a better survival rate ( p < 0.001). In addition, the survival rate of the patients who received post-progression treatment after sorafenib therapy was significantly better than that of the patients who did not ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: In sorafenib therapy, patients with HFS and those who received post-progression treatment exhibited good OS. © 2017 S. Karger AG, BaselKeywords Hepatocellular carcinoma · Sorafenib · Hand-foot syndrome Abstract Objective: To determine the relationship between treatment outcomes and hand-foot syndrome (HFS), and the relationship between survival rate and post-progression treatment after sorafenib therapy. Methods: The study assessed 314 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with sorafenib at 5 general hospitals in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Results: At the start of sorafenib therapy, 23.6% of the patients had HCC of a Child-Pugh class other than A. The initial sorafenib dose was 800 mg in 9.2% of the patients and 400 mg in 64.3%. Time to progression was 129 days (95% CI:

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of a virtual ultrasound (US) imaging device as a tool to assist novice sonographers. Materials and Methods: A prospective blinded pilot study was conducted involving patients with liver lesions. Two sonographers and 2 medical doctors with less than 5 years of experience performed US examinations. The time needed to detect liver lesions on US and the success rate for detecting liver lesions with and without using the virtual US imaging device SYNAPSE VINCENT® (Fujifilm Medical Co., Tokyo, Japan) before US examination were evaluated. Results: Thirty-two patients with the following 42 liver lesions were included: liver cyst (n = 24), hemangioma (n = 8), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 6), and liver metastasis (n = 4). The maximal diameter of these lesions ranged from 0.3 to 1.5 cm (mean ± SD, 0.8 ± 0.4). The average time for detecting liver lesions on US was 47.8 s (range, 7-113) with VINCENT and 112.9 s (range, 14-313) without VINCENT before US examination. There were significant differences in the duration of US examination with and without VINCENT (p = 0.0002, Student's t test). The rates for accurately detecting liver lesions were 100 and 76.2% (16/21) in US beginners with and without VINCENT, respectively. Significantly higher detection rates were found in the US beginners who used VINCENT compared to those who did not use VINCENT (p = 0.047, Fisher's exact test). Conclusion: Before US examination, a reference with VINCENT could contribute to the successful detection of liver lesions and could be time-saving for US beginners.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) play important roles in intestinal tumorigenesis. To investigate the effectiveness of IGF-targeting strategies, we conducted an in vivo study using anti-mouse neutralizing antibodies IGF-I (KM3168) and IGF-II (KM1468). Six-and 10-week-old Apc +/− mice were given KM3168 and/or KM1468 i.p. at two doses (0.01 or 0.1 μg/g weight) once or twice weekly for 4 weeks. To clarify the source of IGFs in vivo, we evaluated the expression levels of IGFs in the liver, normal small intestine, and polyps of the small intestine of Apc +/− mice. The phosphorylation status of IGF signalrelated molecules was examined using immunostaining to understand the mechanism underlying the effects of IGF-neutralizing antibody. The plasma half-life was 168 for KM3168 and 85 hours for KM1468. In two lineages of Apc +/− mice (Apc 1309 and Apc Min/+ ), a low dose (0.01 μg/g weight) of KM3168 and KM1468 significantly reduced the number of polyps when given once and twice weekly, respectively. Combined administration of the effective dose of each antibody had an additive effect. The liver was the main source of IGF-I, whereas the polyps of the small intestine and normal small intestine were the main source of IGF-II. IGF-neutralizing antibodies decreased the phosphorylation of IGF type 1 receptor and inhibited the signal transduction of the Akt pathway. These results suggest that IGF-I and IGF-II play important roles in polyp formation in Apc +/− mice and that specific antibodies to IGF-I and IGF-II may be promising antitumor agents. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(2); 419-28. ©2010 AACR.

Purpose: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one of the most effective therapeutic options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and it is important to protect residual liver function after treatment as well as the effect. To reduce the liver function deterioration, we evaluated the automatic software to predict the embolization area of TACE in 3 dimensions. Materials and Methods: Automatic prediction software of embolization area was used in chemoembolization of 7 HCCs. Embolization area of chemoembolization was evaluated within 1 week CT findings after TACE and compared simulated area using automatic prediction software. Results: The maximal diameter of these tumors is in the range 12-42 mm (24.6 ± 9.5 mm). The average time for detecting tumor-feeding branches was 242 s. The total time to detect tumor-feeding branches and simulate the embolization area was 384 s. All cases could detect all tumor-feeding branches of HCC, and the expected embolization area of simulation with automatic prediction software was almost the same as the actual areas, as shown by CT after TACE. Conclusion: This new technology has possibilities to reduce the amount of contrast medium used, protect kidney function, decrease radiation exposure, and improve the therapeutic effect of TACE.